Many visitors and local residents regard Amsterdam's Red Light district as an essential part of the city. Some people are even proud of it, arguing that it reflects the liberal nature of the Dutch capital, but the city council has recently modified its attitude towards the area. A large number of entrepreneurs in the sex industry have just been informed that their operating licences will not be renewed, following investigations into their integrity which have shown they're too closely connected with the world of crime.
No fewer than 37 entrepreneurs have been told by Amsterdam city council that they will not obtain a new licence to continue their activities in the city's Red Light district.
The council's decisions are based on a law - known as the Bibop legislation - that enables local authorities to investigate the integrity of business people and their activities.
Under the law, people who apply for a business licence of any kind may now be subject to thorough background checks and screening. If it turns out that criminal money is involved in their enterprises, the requisite licence can be refused. This enables councils to combat criminal activities that remain outside the reach of regular criminal law.
In criminal hands
Amsterdam's council says it was high time for such measures. Ten years ago, a parliamentary inquiry concluded that the capital's Red Light area was basically in the hands of some 16 individuals 'with backgrounds or contacts in serious crime.'
This had been a source of concern to the authorities in Amsterdam for some time, coupled with increasing reports in recent years about trafficking in women and forced prostitution in the Red Light district. Local Labour Party councillor Karina Schaapman says the situation was so bad that the authorities simply had to intervene at some point: "Some people are proud of the Red Light district as a tourist attraction. But I think it's also a cesspit. There is so much heavy crime, exploitation of women, social misery, that you really can't claim to be proud of the Red Light district as a tourist attraction."
Closing 'windows'
The ultimate consequence of the city's new policy could be that the sex industry in the area will shrink dramatically, or even disappear altogether. The 37 entrepreneurs who will not be getting the licences they need are in fact responsible for running more than half the 'windows' (prostitutes sit in red-lit windows to attract custom) in the area. One of them is Charles Geertz - by far the biggest entrepreneur in the Red Light district. He runs about 60 windows spread over 20 different buildings, and if the council gets its way they will all be closed soon.
Mr Geertz' lawyer, Han Jahae, says the council has based its decision on outdated and inaccurate information. He claims that rumours about Mr Geertz being involved in money laundering and the drugs trade have been circulating for years. There was even speculation at one time about him being a potential successor to notorious Dutch criminal boss Klaas Bruinsma. But Mr Geertz has never been convicted of anything, as Han Jahae explains: "Geertz has often been linked in the past with Klaas Bruinsma and with drugs. But that was all the subject of thorough investigations - on two separate occasions. In the first investigation - which centred on drugs - Geertz was not even a suspect. The second - which concerned tax fraud - resulted in an out-of-court settlement with the public prosecutor. So it's extremely bitter to see the council impose this kind of sanction now on the basis of those cases, some other loose ends and information which is demonstrably incorrect." Mr Jahae hopes the council will revise its decision. If not, he and his client will go to court to try and get the permits any way, although it seems their chances of succeeding will be slim. So far, the Dutch courts have seldom reversed any decisions taken on the basis of the Bibop legislation.
Closing down
Meanwhile, there are many residents and business people in the Red Light district who fear Amsterdam city council is intent on closing down the sex industry. However, Mariska Majoor of the Prostitution Information Centre isn't convinced this will happen:
"Last year, they shut down the red light district in the city of Arnhem despite many people thinking that would never happen, but I think it's a different story with Amsterdam's Red Light district. Of course we have problems here, and there is crime and trafficking in women, but not to the extent they're talking about at the town hall. And, of course, you need to deal with those problems, but by tackling the pimps, not the people who rent out the rooms. They're targeting the wrong group."
[All objections to the councils licensing decisions must be filed by the end of next week. The council's final decisions are not expected to be taken until the beginning of October.]
RNW Internet translation (mh/tpf)
Tags:
Amsterdam,
Bruinsma,
council,
crime,
district,
drugs,
Geertz,
information,
Majoor,
Mariska,
pimps. windows,
prostitues,
prostitution,
red light,
sex industry,
tourism,
trafficking,
women
Tony Wagner,
18-09-2007
- United States
I think the Red Zone should be changed to the Fun Zone.
Jacques Freydont,
20-08-2006
- USA
As a foreign visitor who loves Amsterdam and the Dutch culture and has no problem w/ prostitution, I still think the Red Zone has gotten out of hand. I think there shld be a Red Zone, but it is so big that it can dominate one' view of the city. I condone it, but I don't like to go there, or, as happens when I wander around, find myself in it. I'd feel more comfortable if the Red Zone was a place for legal prostitution and not a tourist attraction.
Junior,
15-08-2006
- Israel
Well, I thnik that the Council is doing the right desicion. Amsterdam can show to the international community its culture and magnificus history rather than Red light district
irene,
06-08-2006
- canada
My response to HUI's comment: I would like to think likewise, but always has been and always will be women who will choose prostitution willingly instead of a decent, moral lifestyle.
LAYINKA ADAGUN,
ladagun@yahoo.com,
05-08-2006
- NIGERIA
I don't think we need to get emotional about people losing means of livelihood.We should all be concerned about enthroning transparency and integrity in business-even the flesh trade.But how thorough are the background checks?
jasmin,
05-08-2006
- India
Willing prostitutes or unwilling, have always been under debate by those who are well placed in the society and upon whom destiny is benevelont.We such people always have ,'holier than thou' atitude.I too was one of these holy women till a weird dream shattered my ego.Out of nowhere ,I had a dream last year that I was lost in an alien land, night falls and I have nowhere to go.I wander aimlessly on the shutting down shopping streets till total hush descends on the town but I am homeless.Soon I am spotted by a dangerous looking woman who questions me, I get suspicious of her motives and start running on the deserted road,I am sure she will put me into this shady trade, I outrun her and find shelter in an abandoned hut but not for long as I hear voices of burly men who are obviously looking for me, feeling trapped ,I escape and run again with the men chasing me.I reach the International border post of the town and seek help from the security guards.I am totally exhausted, afraid and feel will collapse soon.They console me and a woman officer escorts me to a room where I sit but still panting.Soon I hear the ugly familiar voices again and hear them laugh together as the officers direct them to my room , taking advantage of the darkness and open door ,I escape again ,feeling totally cheated by the security people.I am scared and helpless and think of the women in my dream who can't escape this human trap.
Soon I get up and realise that it was only a dream.You can't imagine the relief I feel on looking around that I am in my home ,on my bed.And most importantly I realise how hapless the women are who get lost in this human jungle and land up in prostitution.From that moment onwards I have stopped judging people and accept them as they are, victims of circumstances and take them as holy as I am.No wonder Lord Jesus Christ did not allow people to stone the woman to death who was considered morally low.
Coyote,
04-08-2006
- United States
I absolutely believe there are willing prostitutes. Some women see it as liberating to have so much control. And yes it is dangerous, but making it illegal doesn't make it safer, in fact it makes it more dangerous. There will always be prostitution, there always has been, but at least now in Amsterdam they can go to the government for help when their lives are in danger. There is a similar argument in Las Vegas, and has been decided that regulating it is safer the not regulating at all.
Hui,
04-08-2006
- NL
I am always suspicious about the Red Light Zone in Amsterdam. They claim that those girls are willing to work as sex service providers. Do you really believe that those girls will be still willing to prostitute if they have other choices??
